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  System and method for generating ordersUSPTO Application #: 20070200683Title: System and method for generating orders Abstract: An automated ordering system for consumables, equipment maintenance supplies, and the like. The present invention uniquely combines the features of instrument maintenance and sample tracking systems with unique e-commerce and order generation systems. In doing so it provides unique advantages to both vendors and users. An aspect of the present invention is “permission purchasing” in which, through the use of the system, a user is supplied with all the parts and services needed to maintain a piece of equipment. In some embodiments, orders are generated using a data set with information specific to a particular instrument and responsive to the usage of the instrument. The system optionally makes use of computer networks such as the Internet. (end of abstract)
Agent: Steven M. Colby - Palo Alto, CA, US Inventor: Steven M. Colby USPTO Applicaton #: 20070200683 - Class: 340010510 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070200683. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims benefit and priority to U.S. provisional patent applications: 60/678,428 filed May 6, 2005; 60/685,331 filed May 27, 2005, 60/700,884 filed Jul. 19, 2005; 60/712,308 filed Aug. 30, 2005; 60/715,641 filed Sep. 10, 2005; 60/752,933 filed Dec. 21, 2005; 60/758,751 filed Jan. 13, 2006; 60/782,068 filed Mar. 13, 2006; 60/744,154 filed Apr. 3, 2006, and 60/746,636 filed May 6, 2006. The disclosures of the above provisional patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference. [0002] The disclosure of U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 11/350,309 filed Feb. 7, 2006 is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The disclosure of U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 11/382,050 filed May 7, 2006 is hereby incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] The invention is in the field of financial transactions and, according to some embodiments, in the field of automated order generation. [0005] 2. Related Art [0006] Some inventory systems automatically generate orders when inventory reaches a specific level. This approach requires that inventory be carefully counted. SUMMARY [0007] Orders are automatically generated based on use of an instrument or other system that consumes inventory. The present invention provides part numbers, vendor, and ordering information for needed parts and supplies and optionally automatically generates purchase orders and/or places electronic orders. In various embodiments advantages achieved by the present invention include: providing improved and more regular maintenance of instruments; providing greater convenience and time savings to the user; and/or automatic generation of orders for needed materials. Some embodiments include an advantage of enabling of "Permission Sales" wherein a supplier-customer relationship is established that allows a vendor to ship products to a customer with minimal effort on the part of the customer. The above advantages are illustrative. Various embodiments of the present invention optionally include other advantages and achieve to varying degrees, none, some or all of these specific advantages. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0008] The present invention includes server-side computer programs and EMWiz.TM. (Equipment Maintenance Wizard), a downloadable utility that tracks the use and maintenance requirements of instruments. EMWiz and the server-side programs embody several levels of sophistication and a variety of feature sets. These are illustrated by several illustrative embodiments discussed herein. The features discussed may be interchangeable, between the specific embodiments shown, in order to form additional embodiments. [0009] Elements of the present invention that are shared by several embodiments include the following: the ability to notify the user of future, current, and past due maintenance requirements for a piece or set of equipment; the ability to either read files or receive manually entered maintenance data that applies to specific equipment; the ability to monitor instrument use; and/or the ability to provide users with part numbers and/or ordering information for replacement supplies and service. [0010] Several embodiments of the present invention include a software program capable of executing the method illustrated in FIG. 1. In a read date step 101 the software reads the system date. This information is available through most computer operating systems. In a read action step 102 the software reads data indicating the next time some program action must be taken (the "action date"). In some embodiments the order of these two steps is reversed. The action date is optionally read from a file or may be imbedded as part of the software program. In a compare step 103 the current data is compared with the action date. The "dates" used by the current invention may include a specific format such as Julian or calendar date and/or time of day information. If the next action date is after (or perhaps equal to) the current date an optional delay step 104 is initiated. After delay step 104 the method returns again to step 101. If, after step 103, the next action date is found to be prior to the current date, then an action step 105 is performed. Action step 105 includes collection of information needed to perform an action. The information is optionally included with the action date data. This information may include the action that is needed, part numbers of any materials required and information on ordering these materials. The software program of the invention is differentiated from other reminder or calendar programs in that either part numbers and/or ordering information is provided to the user, optionally responsive to an instrument associated with the software program. This provides a great advantage and convenience to the user. It is also to the great advantage of the vender whose ordering information is displayed. Action information is then displayed to the user (106). Finally the action data is updated appropriately (107). This update will make the date of the another action the "next action date" if appropriate. Finally, the process will return to either step 101 or 104. [0011] Several of these steps may be performed in an order other than that shown in FIG. 1. For example, step 107 may be performed before steps 105 or 106 without substantially altering the means or the result of the process. [0012] Note also that the use of date information is used to measure the time delay between action items. Other forms of measurement may be used. For example, a counting system may alternatively be used. In this case the number of times some event occurs will be a measure of the time elapsed. [0013] In practice the above method may be implemented through a computer program as described below. The program is made available either on recording media such as a floppy disk or Compact Disk. The program may also be available through a computer network such as the Internet, an intranet, or other network system. When made available over a network the operation of the program and any stored data may be distributed between the user's access device and other network nodes or servers. When the user first accesses the program they are given the ability to declare the one or more pieces of equipment that the program will be used to monitor. Maintenance schedules for the equipment is either loaded from previously prepared files or entered manually. A set of previously prepared files may be made available through the same types of means as the software. The maintenance schedules may be edited by the user to meet a specific need or requirement. The software is then associated with one of the several timing means available through current operating systems. These means may include, for example, the Microsoft Windows.RTM. scheduler, a computer interrupt, an autoexec file, or a calendar program such as MS Outlook. The timing means is used to monitor the delay time shown in step 104 of FIG. 1. Once activated, the program will wait for the next scheduled activity. When this activity is due a message may appear on the screen informing the user of the activity that is due. This information may include relevant part numbers or/and ordering information. The user is given the options of acknowledging that the action was done, printing the information, or postponing the information for redisplay at a later time. If the action is said to be done it is removed from the list of items to do. If it is postponed the list of items to do is updated to show a new action time. The action notification may not directly involve the user of the equipment. Alternatively or additionally, the information may be sent directly to other locations such as a purchasing or service department and/or vendor. [0014] Added features that could be included to constitute alternative embodiments are described as follows. [0015] The software may function over a computer network. When doing so multiple instruments possibly distributed over multiple locations may be supported. Information relating to orders, maintenance, parts, supplies, and service may also be accessed or distributed using the network. Data may be stored in a location separate from the instrument being supported. For example, the service schedule, vendor, maintenance history, or part information may be stored on a remote web site or server. This has the advantage that updates could be made at a single point instead of at every instrument. The user, vendor, or other party could update information stored at a remote site. This will allow the parties to make changes to information such as preferred product, inventory, delivery, or price. [0016] There is an advantage to combining multiple items (or services) into a single order. EMWiz may choose to combine items that will be required over a specified period or that will be needed/more convenient for a single service into a single order. EMWiz will use the maintenance schedule to identify items that could be combined and optionally give a user the option of doing so. For example, if two different parts will be required during the next month the user may be offered the opportunity to get them in the same order. In another example, if oil for a pump needs to be changed, a new filter may also be ordered so that both operations can be executed in the same service event. In a third example, oil for pumps in distributed locations or associated with several systems could be combined in a single order. [0017] EMWiz may automatically generate a purchase order (PO) or may place an order on a blanket/open purchase order. This paperwork may be customized to fit a user's specific needs. Using the unique capabilities of EMWiz the PO can include part, vendor, price, and ordering information. [0018] EMWiz may deliver the PO to a printer, computer interface, or alternatively to selected destinations over a computer network. The destination may include vendors, purchasing agents, accounting departments or any other entity to which the information may be of use. [0019] EMWiz may use its unique access to vendor and price information to help track expenses related to the use and maintenance of a piece of equipment. This information may be stored by EMWiz or passed on to another accounting or maintenance program. [0020] EMWiz may choose to place an order from among a list of preferred vendors. This selection may be based on factors such as price and delivery time. Vendor information may be posted or accessed over a computer network. Continue reading... Full patent description for System and method for generating orders Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this System and method for generating orders patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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